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Save a Pretty Penny by Preserving Women's Intimates

These days, women's intimates can cost a pretty penny, but beyond getting in on a great sale, the key to savings is making them last longer. Here are some great tips on how to preserve your undergarments.

The first rule of thumb: Don't wash your intimates in the washing machine. Although this is the most convenient option, this method will eventually deform their shape. Instead, hand wash your underwear with a mild detergent. For extra savings, use baby shampoo, which is much cheaper than detergent.

If you must wash your intimates in the washing machine, choose the delicate cycle and cold water options. Buy a lingerie bag, which you can find for around $4 each, and place your delicates inside it before washing.

Finally, never machine dry your bras, as the heat will shrink and/or distort their shape. After washing, refrain from wringing the items out, and simply reshape and hang dry to keep them good as new.

If you follow these simple steps, your bras and underwear will last much longer. in the end, you'll save yourself trips to the lingerie store, and have more money in the bank because of it.

94 Comments

This article is a bunch of BS. Modern washers have a setting for delicates and will wash them just fine. Also, as far as bras go, a little shinkage from the dryer is just fine as bras stretch over time. Mine have never shrunk too much.

I know how I wreck my underwear and it has nothing to do with washing it. It's the intense stripes left on it that aren't washed out by hand. Even the machine can't get these horrible skidmarks out, so I just throw them to the garbage man. Oh well...

Hand wash, phooey. Who has that kind of time? Besides, if you wear cotton undies courtesy of Hanes Her Way or FTL, then they're machine-washable anyway (not to mention economical at $6 for a pack of at least 3!).